Projects

Chosen filters:
Chosen filters:

1 - 10 of 11 results

Sorteren op
Search term:

Unraveling host-ETEC interactions in the gut and development of oral subunit vaccins Ghent University

Bert Devriendt
Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health

Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) infections are a leading cause of diarrhea in piglets, resulting in substantial economic losses for the swine industry. Oral subunit vaccines to protect piglets against ETEC infections are currently lacking mainly due to an incomplete understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of ETEC as well as the challenges inherent to oral subunit vaccine design. Our research aims to further unravel the interactions of ETEC ...

Immunisation of chickens against Campylobacter infections (CAMPIMMUN) Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Marc Heyndrickx, Geertrui Rasschaert
Food Safety, Ghent University, Technology and Food Science
General introduction
Contaminated poultry meat is the most important source for Campylobacter jejuni infections in humans, the cost of which is estimated at  almost 11 billion euro per year in Belgium. At present there are yet no efficient control measures to reduce the Campylobacter prevalence of broilers during primary production. In previous research, we have demonstrated that oral passive immunization with antibodies from eggs ...

Early events in the interaction of antigens/microorganisms with the intestinal epithelial cells and intestinal dendritic cells : development of new innovative oral delivery system. Ghent University

Eric Cox
Department of Medical and Forensic Pathology, Department of Pharmaceutics, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health

Vaccination is regarded as the most efficient and cost-effective way to prevent infectious diseases.

Vaccine design nowadays focuses on the implementation of safer recombinant subunit vaccines. However, these recombinant subunit antigens are often poor immunogens and several strategies are currently under investigation to enhance their immunogenicity. The encapsulation of the antigens in biodegradable microparticulate delivery systems ...

Development of a generic platform for antigen and immune potentiator delivery via spray drying Ghent University

Jan Tavernier
Department of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical molecular biology

For many insidious pathogens the classical vaccination approach of injecting attenuated
pathogens has failed. Subunit vaccines composed of recombinant antigens might provide an
attractive alternative but their effective deployment will require the development of adjuvants capable of activating cellular immune responses. An appealing approach to achieve this goal is the encapsulation of antigens and immune-stimulatory compounds in ...

A chimeric protein vaccine containing Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens: development and protective efficacy against enzootic pneumonia in pigs Ghent University

Dominiek Maes
Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the etiological agent of swine enzootic pneumonia, one of the most important respiratory diseases in pigs. The aim of this project is to determine if a a recombinant chimeric antigen of M. hyopneumoniae fused to the B subunit of heat labile enterotoxin of E. coli, is able to induce protection against an experimental M; hyopneumoniae infection in pigs.

Neurotropic flavivirus threat in Europe: unveiling the potential of NS1 for diagnostic advancement and preventive and therapeutic interventions. University of Antwerp

Peter Delputte
Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp (ITM), Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH)
Flaviviruses are a growing threat in Europe, where West Nile virus (WNV), Tick-borne encephalitis (TBEV), and Usutu virus (USUV) co-circulate. Human travel can also introduce other flaviviruses, like Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). New diagnostic and preventive methods are needed to reduce the risk of epidemics from these neurotropic viruses with sometimes serious medical consequences. NS1 is a potential target for diagnosis and prevention. ...

The influenza virus endonuclease: an innovative target for antiviral therapy. KU Leuven

Lieve Naesens
Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy (Rega Institute)

Influenza viruses cause seasonal epidemics as well as pandemic outbreaks, associated with huge economic costs and significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in elderly or frail individuals. The widely recommended influenza vaccines require annual updates and provide inadequate protection, especially in immunocompromised and elderly persons, which are both steadily growing populations. In addition, ...

Functional reconstitution of Type 3 protein targeting and secretion KU Leuven

Tassos Economou
Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology (Rega Institute)
Type III secretion (T3S) is a specialized protein export and delivery system for protein toxins. These effectors are directly injected in the cytoplasm of host eukaryotic cells, through a dedicated nanosyringe, the injectisome, that spans two bacterial and one eukaryotic membrane. Once secreted, effectors interfere with host signalling pathways and modulate cellular processes, leading to host cell death. The T3SS is widespread and ...

Sec61-targeted inhibitors of viral polyprotein import into the ER as antiviral drugs against orthoflaviviruses KU Leuven

Kurt Vermeire
Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy (Rega Institute)

The genus of Orthoflaviviruses includes mosquito-borne RNA viruses like dengue, Zika and yellow fever virus which impose a significant threat to global health. Dengue virus (DENV) is currently the most widespread arbovirus, endemic in more than 100 countries. Due to the spread of its Aedes vector, DENV is further expanding to new areas in Europe and the Americas. Infections by one of the four DENV serotypes manifest across ...